PPB January 2021

Pe r sona l Sa f e t y Pr oduc t s Safety First P ersonal safety is one of our most basic needs. Safety is essential, and consumers’ actions are motivated by survival. According to Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, safety represents the second tier of humans’ fundamental basic needs—second only to physiological needs, such as access to air, water, food and shelter—and includes personal security, employment, access to resources, security of property and health. Althoughmajority of humans don’t live in constant danger like animals and early humans, the need for safety is ever-present and continues to guide most decisions. Whether it’s deciding what to wear, what to eat or where to go, all these decisions are based on maintaining or improving our physical and physiological well-being. The need for personal safety and the safety of one’s family is a drive that influences consumer behavior. No matter what the product is, when people use it, they want to feel safe and secure. Suggesting products that can satisfy one or more safety needs, with clear evidence to support these claims, helps to allay fears and build trust. Connections distributors can draw between the products suppliers are designing and selling, and the safety-providing qualities they possess, are what will capture an end user’s attention, making them appreciate the product and the brand associated with it. During the pandemic, consumers’ sense of safety, from concerns about job security to catching coronavirus, has been under constant attack. Clients can meet this unwavering need with personal safety products for every end user. In the U.S., during the early weeks of the pandemic, hospitals and health- care systems struggled with widespread shortages of PPE. The rise in demand for PPE—which includes protective clothing, face and eye protection, and gloves and masks—is directly linked to coronavirus. The global health-care PPE market is projected to reach $33.4 billion by 2027, three times its $12.9 billion value in 2019, growing at an annual rate of 12.4 percent from 2020 to 2027, according to Allied Market Research. To secure necessary PPE, equipment and supplies, hospital administrators reported turning to new, sometimes un-vetted and nontraditional sources for supplies and medical equipment. Distributors and Protecting yourself and others has taken on a whole new meaning since the start of the pandemic. Being safe and healthy is no longer just a personal worry, but a greater societal concern. With every employer and government agency focused on the health and wellness of workers and consumers, products that serve and protect end users will remain in demand. by Kristina Valdez Pand P Studio / RossHelen / ViDI Studio / Shutterstock.com. 32 | JANUARY 2021 | GROW